I found Lyn Pykett's analysis of Catherine unique perspective and subsequent fate very intriguing. She begins by telling us that Catherine's story is divergent from most written in the 18th century, especially by female authors. Given a common problem explored in other stories of the time, of which man to choose to marry, Catherine's story departs from the norm when marriage does not settle her problems, but rather complicates and agitates them even more. Catherine chose to marry for social standing and economic stability, despite the strong feelings of love she harbored for Heathcliff. This choice, rather than bringing a close to the book and her story, only opens her up for more (and greater) heartache later on.
It is interesting to consider how Brontë's story differs from other stories in which the heroines were forced to define their lives by the men that they marry. Pride and Prejudice, for instance, when Elizabeth finally decides to marry Mr. Darcy it is a move upward on the social ladder and one that presumably ends with the finding of real love. It's a happy ending. In Wuthering Heights, Catherine finds no such peace with her upward move.
Another thing I found interesting was the examination of young Catherine's transformation from wild earth child, happy to run the Moors with Heathcliff, to genteel lady concerned with societies conventions and with her ultimate image. To "modern" women of the time, this kind of shift would probably not have been frowned upon. The tragedy in Wuthering Heights may be best summed up in the unfortunate life of Catherine Earnshaw.
The story of Catherine and Heathcliff is one that has been told since people began putting word to paper. In "The Illiad" Troy is destroyed because Helen chose to be with Paris despite what society felt she should do. Romeo and Juliette met their demise for choosing to be together despite their families feud. By choosing love they lost their lives.
ReplyDeleteWe can even find examples of it in modern ficion. Take my my secret life as a Jedi Knight. Anakin Skywalker is not allowed to announce his love for Padme Amidala because the Jedi council forbade love and marriage. Being forced to keep their relationship a secret caused resentful feelings to grow inside of him and as we all know that had disastrous consequences for the galaxy.
I think these kid of stories always serve as lessons in which society can draw from. Until people are allowed to choose for themselves the lives they want to live there will always be conflict and unfortunately tragedy.
It really shows the ideas of the time period when women in literature are often defined by the men they marry. In the case of Wuthering Heights, however, I thought that the men were perhaps defined by Catherine - she is both like Heathcliff and Edgar, but has to choose between the two. In a sense, she is choosing which side of herself to become. Bronte's piece is less traditional in that sense.
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